Thermally isolating spacer bracket



Jan. 22, 1963 E. G. SWICK THERMALLY ISOLATING SPACER BRACKET Filed June2, 1961 mmvrm Edwin Gram Swz'ck 3,074,522 THERMALLY ISOLATING SPACERBRACKET Edwin Grant Swick, Bartlett, Ill, assignor to filinois ToolWorks Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 2, 1961, Ser. No.114,410 9 Claims. (Cl. 1S9-88) This invention relates to a thermallyisolating spacer bracket and more particularly relates to a bracketmeans for rigidly interconnecting two spaced panel members in thermallyisolating relationship and to the assembly so formed.

In the manufacture of various appliances such as refrigerators,freezers, and the like, it is often desirous to have two metallic panelmembers rigidly interconnected in spaced apart relationship. Forexample, in a refrigerator the outer casing of the regrigerator isconventionally formed of metal with a porcelain or other hard coatingthereon and the interior of the refrigerator is also often made of metalprovided with a porcelain or other hard coating. These two casings arespaced apart and insulation means of various types are disposedtherebetween.

This invention is concerned with a clip means for connecting two panelmembers in spaced apart relation while maintaining a thermo isolationtherebetween.

More particularly it is anobject of this invention to provide astructural fastening relationship between two panel members which isrigid, stable, and utilizes a small number of parts While providing theabove described function.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clip means forassociation with two panel members which is easy to manufacture, is easyto assemble, has easy access for initial assembly and later disassemblyfor maintenance and repair, and is otherwise well adapted for thepurposes for which is was designed.

The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,both as to its organization and its method of operation together withadditional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood bythe following description of specific embodiments when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a clip and panel arrangement, saidview being taken approximately along lines 11 of FIG. 6 and along thelines 1-1 of FIG. 2 the sectional view through the clip of FIG. 1 beingrotated 180 from the position shown in FIG. 2 when the clip shown inFIG. 1 is assembled to a Work panel;

FIG. 2 is a full line top plan view of the clip means shown in FIG. 2,the panels being shown in dotted line;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an alternate clip;

FIG. 4 is a right hand end view of the clip shown in FIG. 3, said viewbeing taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the clip taken along lines 55 ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a semidiagrammatic perspective view of an insulated box.

The assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings essentially comprises aclip means 12, a first panel means 14 (which may be the inner housing orliner of the refrigerator), and a second panel means 16 (which may bethe outer housing of a refrigerator or the like) as shown in FIG. 6. Theinner liner 14 has a first substantially straight portion 18 which isconnected to an angularly offset portion 26 by a series of steps assuitable and desired. The offset portion 20 has a through aperture 22and may or may not have an upturned lip portion 24.

3,ll74,522 Fatented Jan. 22, 1963 The outer panel means 16 has a firstsubstantially straight portion 26 which is parallel with portion 18 anda right angle offset portion 28 interconnected thereto to form a corner.Reversely bent portions 30 and 32 are formed back upon portions 28 and26 respectively for purposes of strengthening the corner area. At rightangle to portion 32 is a straight portion 34 which is generally parallelwith portions 28 and 30. Angularly offset from portion 34 is a paneledge portion 36 which is disposed generally parallel and coplanar withportion 20 of the inner panel member 14 and disposed at 45 to the cornerformed by portions 30-32 and 26-28. Thus straight panel portions 26 and18 respectively are adapted to form spaced wall portions of arefrigerator, it being realized that the panels have an overall boxlikeconfiguration with the mouth of the box having a suitable door.

When the inner and outer liners 14 and 16 are as sembled as shown inFIGS. 1 and 6, they are held in spaced apart relation by the clip means12 which comprises a metallic portion 38 and a thermally insulatinggrommet member 40. A plastic facia strip or covering member 42 iscoextensive with the panel means 14 and 16 and is configured to closeoff the area where the clips 12 are located to provide a thermallynonconducting seal therebetween.

The clip per se as aforementioned, comprises the metallic portion 38 andthe insulating grommet member which is assembled onto the clip. Thegrommet member 40 is generally hollow having a small bore 43 and a largecounter bore 44. Diverging leg portions 46, which are flexible to adegree, surround bore 43. The legs are adapted to be inerted through anaperture in one corner of the metallic portion 38 and are spread apartby a screw fastener member 45 inserted in the aperture 22 in panelportion 20. The top surface 48 of the grommet member 40 is spaced abovethe surface of the major plane of the metallic portion 50 of the clipmember a predetermined distance as shown. It will be appreciated thatwhen the screw fastener 45 is mounted in the grommet bore 43, the legs46 serve the various functions of acting as a nut like member whichretains the screw ember 45, they insulate the fastener 45 from metalportion 50 of the clip, and they simultaneously fasten the entire clipto the panel portion 20. Since the grommet member 40 is formed ofplastic and since the leg portions 46 thermally insulate the fastenermember 45 from the metallic portion 50, there is no good heat transferbetween the panel 20 and the metallic clip means 38.

The metallic clip means 38 as here shown is essentially triangular inplan view and has a major portion 50 which is essentially coplanar andis offset from raised corner portions 52 and 54. The corner portions 52and 54 are coplanar and are offset from portion 50 by upstandingportions 56 and 58 respectively a distance which is sufiicient to makecorner portions 52 and 54 essentially coplanar with top surface 48 ofthe grommet member 40. Strengthening means 60 in the form of an upsetmay be formed in the portion 50 to rigidify the member. The cornerportions 52 and 54 are adapted to be fastened to suitable spacedapertures in panel portion 36 and as here shown have a fastening meansin the form of helical screw impressions 62 and 64. Thus a nut cage isnot required on the underside of the portions 52 and 54. Suitable screwmembers such as 65 (see FIG. 1) may be fastened to the impressions6264,and panel portion 36 to complete a rigid assembly. There is easyaccess to both types of fastener members 45-65 in original assembly aswill be readily apparent. It will be noted that removal of the plasticportion 42 allows easy access to the fastener members 45 and 65 fordisassembly of the original assembly for repair.

The alternate clip shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 is substantially similarto the one above described. Similar parts shall be given similarreference numerals with the addition of the sufiix a. The clips shown inFIGS. 3 throtigh 5 have a modified means of attaching to the spacedaperatures in panel portion 36. More particularly, upstanding cornerportions 54a and 56a have up wardly directed tangs 66 and 68respectively, which are adapted to cooperate with the prepunched holesin the panel 36. The inboard corners of the coplanar upstanding cornerportions 54a and 56a are respectively bent downwardly at 70 and 72 toprovide an easy entry of portions 54a and 56a beneath the panel. Acentral tongue portion 74 has a revensely bent lip portion 76 which isadapted to slide over the top of the panel to aggressively retain thetang portions 66 and 68a in place in the respective apertures in panelportion 36. To mount the clip 12a one tang such as for example, 66 isplaced within a panel aperture with the tongue being on the top side ofthe panel portion 36 and then the clip is rotated until the tang portion68 fits within the second aperture.

From the foregoing, it is seen that a compact, rigid, thermallyinsulating clip means of few parts is provided for structurallyinterconnecting two panels in thermally isolated relation.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is with full awareness that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except asinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. An assembly including clip means adapted for mounting two panelmembers in physically and thermally spaced relation comprising incombination, a first panel member having an aperture adjacent an edgeportion thereof, a second panel member having an aperture in a ,panelportion disposed in spaced parallel relation to said first panel edgeportion, clip means connecting said first and second panel members, saidclip means comprising an apertured first portion of substantial extentand disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said first and secondpanel portions and offset therefrom, a second clip portion parallel withsaid first clip portion and offset from the latter and disposed adjacentto said second panel portion, screw retaining aperture means in saidofiset second portion of said clip means, and a thermally nonconductivemember disposed in the aperture of said first clip portion having acentral aperture to receive a fastener member associated with said firstpanel portion, said thermally 'nonconductive retaining member having asurface for engaging said first panel portion and being spaced from saidfirst portion of said clip means a distance substantially equal to theoffset of said second portion of said clip means from said firstportion, whereby said second panel member and said first panel membermay be joined by said clip means in a physically rigid and thermallynonconductive manner.

2. An assembly including clip means adapted for mounting two panelmembers in physically and thermally spaced relation comprising incombination, a first panel member having an aperture adjacent an edgeportion thereof, a second panel member having a pair of spaced aperturesin a panel portion disposed in spaced parallel relation to said firstpanel edge portion clip means connecting said firs-t and second panelmembers, said clip means comprising an apertured first portion ofsubstantial extent and disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of saidfirst and second panel portions and offset therefrom, a pair of secondclip portions parallel with said first clip portion and offset from thelatter and disposed adjacent to said second panel portion, detachableretaining means in each of said ofiset second portions of said clipmeans, and a thermally nonconductive member having a hollow neck portionwith an open mouth and a base portion disposed through the aperture insaid first clip portion, said base portion having an aperture to receivea fastener member associated with said first panel portion, the marginof said neck portion surrounding said mouth having a surface forengaging said first panel portion, said neck sur face being spaced fromsaid first portion of said clip means a distance substantially equal tothe offset of said second portions of said clip means from said firstportion, whereby said second panel member and said first panel membermay be joined by said clip means a coplanar, physically rigid, andthermally nonconductive manner.

3. Clip means adapted for mounting two panel members in physically andthermally spaced coplanar relation comprising a first portion ofsubstantial extent and adapted to be disposed in a plane parallel to theplane of said first and second panel portions and ofiset therefrom, asecond clip portion parallel with said first clip portion and oifsetfrom the latter and adapted to be disposed adjacent to said second panelportion, fastener means in said offset second portion of said clip meansfor association with said second panel portion, said first portion ofsaid clip means having an aperture, and a thermally nonconductive memberdisposed in said aperture of said first clip portion, said thermallynonconductive member being apertured to rotatably receive a fastenermember associated with said first panel portion, said thermallynonconductive member having a stop surface spaced from said first clipportion for engaging said first panel portion, said stop surface beingspaced from said first portion of said clip means a distancesubstantially equal to the offset of said second portion of said clipmeans from said first portion, whereby said second panel portion andsaid first panel portion may be joined by said clip means in aphysically rigid, spaced, coplanar, and thermally nonconductive manner.

4. Clip means adapted for mounting two panel members in physically andthermally spaced coplanar relation comprising a first metallic, portionof substantial extent and adapted to be disposed in a plane parallel tothe plane of said first and second panel portions and oifset therefrom,a strengthening upset in said first clip portion, a pair of cornersecond clip portions parallel with said first clip portion and oifsetfrom the latter by integral substantially right angle upright portions,said corner portions being adapted to be disposed adjacent to saidsecond panel portion, fastener means integral with said ofiset secondcorner portions of said clip means for association with said secondpanel portion, said first portion of said clip means having an aperture,and a plastic thermally nonconductive member disposed in said apertureof said first clip portion, said thermally nonconductive member beingapertured to rotatably receive a fastener member associated with saidfirst panel portion, said thermally nonconductive member having a stopsurface spaced from said first clip portion for engaging said firstpanel portion, said stop surface being spaced from said first portion ofsaid clip means adistance substantially equal to the offset of saidsecond corner portions of said clip means from said first portion,whereby said second panel portion and said first panel portion may bejoined by said clip means in a physically rigid, spaced, coplanar, andthermally nonconductive manner.

5. Substantially polygonal clip means essentially triangular in planview adapted for mounting two panel members in physically and thermallyspaced coplanar relation comprising a first portion of substantialextent and adapted to be disposed in a plane parallel to the plane ofsaid first and second panel portions and oifset therefrom, said firstportion having a first corner area, second and third corner area clipportions parallel with said first clip portion and ofiset from thelatter and adapted to be disposed adjacent to said second panel portion,fastener means in each said offset second and third corner portions ofsaid clip means for association with said second panel portion, saidfirst corner portion of said clip means having an aperture, and athermally nonconductive plastic grommet member fixedly disposed in saidaperture of said first corner area, said thermally nonconductive memberbeing apertured to rotatably receive a fastener member associated withsaid first panel portion, said thermally nonconductive member having astop surface spaced from said first corner area of first clip portionfor engaging said first panel portion, said stop surface being spacedfrom said first corner area of said clip means a distance substantiallyequal to the offset of said second and third corner areas of said clipmeans from said first portion, whereby said second panel portion andsaid first panel portion may be joined by said clip means in aphysically rigid, spaced, coplanar, and thermally nonconductive manner.

6. The clip means set forth in claim wherein the fastener means in eachof said second and third corner areas are in the form of helical screwimpressions.

7. The clip means set forth in claim 5 wherein the fastener means ineach of said second and third corner areas is in the form of upstandingtangs, the clip means further having a tongue member intermediate saidsecond and third corner areas adapted to engage the second panel andaggressively urged the tangs into association with spaced apertures insaid second panel.

8. An assembly including clip means adapted for mounting the mouth oftwo wall metallic panel members in physically and thermally spacedrelation comprising in combination, a first inner wall panel memberhaving a straight portion and a 45 angularly offset portion having anaperture therein, a second outer wall panel member having a straightportion parallel with the inner panel straight portion and spacedtherefrom, said second panel portion having a 45 angularly offsetportion having a pair of spaced apertures therein, said second angularlyoffset panel portion being disposed in spaced parallel relation to saidfirst angularly offset panel edge portion, clip means connecting saidfirst and second angularly offset panel portions, said clip meanscomprising an apertured first portion of substantial extent and disposedin a plane parallel to the plane of said first and second angularlyoffset panel portions and offset therefrom, a pair of second clipportions parallel with said first clip portion and offset from thelatter and disposed adjacent to said second panel angularly offsetportion, detachable retaining means in each of said offset secondportions of said clip means, and a thermally nonconductive member havinga hollow neck portion with an open mouth and a base portion disposedthrough the aperture in said first clip portion, said base portionhaving an aperture to receive a fastener member associated with saidfirst panel ofiset portion, the margin of said neck portion surroundingsaid mouth having a surface for engaging said first panel offsetportion, said neck surface being spaced from said first portion of saidclip means a distance substantially equal to the offset of said secondportions of said clip means from said first portion, whereby said secondpanel member and said first panel member may be joined by said clipmeans in a coplanar physically rigid and thermally nonconductive manner.

9. An assembly including clip means adapted for mounting two panelmembers in physically and thermally spaced relation comprising incombination, a first panel member having an aperture adjacent an edgeportion thereof, a second panel member having an aperture in a panelportion disposed in spaced relation to said first panel edge portion,clip means connecting said first and second panel members, said clipmeans comprising an apertured first portion of substantial extent anddisposed in a plane parallel to the plane of one of said first andsecond panel portions and offset therefrom, a second clip portion offsetfrom said first clip portion and disposed adjacent to said second panelportion, fastening means in said offset second portion of said clipmeans, and a thermally nonconductive member disposed in the aperture ofsaid first clip portion having a central aperture to receive a fastenermember associated with said first panel portion, said thermallynonconductive retaining member having a surface for engaging said firstpanel portion and being spaced from said first portion of said clipmeans a substantial distance, whereby said second panel member and saidfirst panel member may be joined by said clip means in a physicallyrigid and thermally nonconductive manner.

References (Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. AN ASSEMBLY INCLUDING CLIP MEANS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING TWO PANEL MEMBERS IN PHYSICALLY AND THERMALLY SPACED RELATION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A FIRST PANEL MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE ADJACENT AN EDGE PORTION THEREOF, A SECOND PANEL MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE IN A PANEL PORTION DISPOSED IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID FIRST PANEL EDGE PORTION, CLIP MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANEL MEMBERS, SAID CLIP MEANS COMPRISING AN APERTURED FIRST PORTION OF SUBSTANTIAL EXTENT AND DISPOSED IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANEL PORTIONS AND OFFSET THEREFROM, A SECOND CLIP PORTION PARALLEL WITH SAID FIRST CLIP PORTION AND OFFSET FROM THE LATTER AND DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID SECOND PANEL PORTION, SCREW RETAINING APERTURE MEANS IN SAID OFFSET SECOND PORTION OF SAID CLIP MEANS, AND A THERMALLY NONCINDUCTIVE MEMBER DISPOSED IN THE APERTURE OF SAID FIRST CLIP PORTION HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE TO RECEIVE A FGASTENER MEMBER 